A video circulating online captures a confrontation between two foreign tourists at Tirta Empul Temple in Bali during the Melukat ceremony on 16th January 2024. The dispute erupted when one tourist refused to wear the mandatory sarong required for the Melukat ritual.
Uploaded by the TikTok account @ugcbyvy, the footage shows the Tirta Empul Temple management attempting to intervene and escort the non-compliant tourists out of the pool. It appears that one of the tourists expressed dissatisfaction with the Melukat ceremony’s sequence.
@ugcbyvyvy BRINGING AWARENESS: please if you enter the pura tirta empul respect the rules of the place and their religion. This is a sacred place and if you can not simply respect the people, please do not attend this place. He was very agressive. #tirtaempultemple #tirtaempulholywater #tirtaempulbali #templebali #indonesia #indonesiatemple #tirtaempul ♬ origineel geluid – Vyvy | UGC creator
The bald tourist vocalized his discontent loudly. Onlookers, including other tourists at Tirta Empul Temple, could only observe from a distance, and many recorded the incident.
In the comments section of the video, numerous Balinese individuals and other foreign tourists criticized the behaviour. Here are some comments from TikTok netizens expressing their thoughts on this controversial incident:
“Tirta Empul has changed from its sacred nature; now it feels like a public bath 🥺. It doesn’t hold the same sanctity, especially when people of different religions come there to bathe,” commented @adeita_3.
“Tirta Empul should be preserved exclusively for religious activities. For tourists and the general public, a man-made Tirta Empul could be created nearby,” commented @redi.roses.
The Tampaksiring police, situated near the area, have confirmed the incident. The chief of Tampaksiring police, AKP I Putu Agus Ady Wijaya, mentioned that the altercation between the foreign tourists is not undergoing legal processing, as both sides have reconciled.
Tirta Empul is a renowned destination for tourists participating in the Melukat ceremony in Bali. Many people hope that this incident serves as an isolated occurrence in the sacred Hindu community area. Disrespectful actions within these sacred areas are feared to generate negative energy and violate local customs.
